Pope Francis denounces epidemic of bullying

(25 Nov 2019) Pope Francis denounced what he called an "epidemic" of bullying that is tormenting young people in Japan and elsewhere.

Francis asked Japanese students Monday in Tokyo to "extend the hand of friendship to those who come here."

Francis was responding to testimony from three students who recounted the pressures they faced in a hyper-competitive society, their feelings of inadequacy and the cruelty they sometimes faced from their classmates that sometimes drive young people to suicide.

One, a Filipino, said he had been tormented by a bully because he was a foreigner.

"We must all unite against this culture of bullying and learn to say 'Enough!' It is an epidemic, and together you can find the best medicine to treat it," Francis said.



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